Risk Investigator I

KORT Payments • Irvine, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Welcome to KORT Payments, where innovation meets excellence! We specialize in providing a state-of-the-art omnichannel payments platform designed to make business transactions a breeze. Our mission? To empower businesses with top-notch capabilities in compliance, risk management, and payment processing. Our trailblazing, enterprise-grade platform, coupled with a veteran management team, ensures we stay ahead of the curve in delivering unparalleled service and satisfaction. As we expand our presence in the U.S. market, we're excited to bring our proven solutions and innovative approach to new industries, while continuing to operate under the KORT Payments banner alongside Merrco, Payfirma and Barnet.

The Risk Investigator is an integral part of the Risk team and is responsible for proactively identifying, investigating, and mitigating high-risk merchants and transactional activity. You’ll work closely with Risk leadership, Operations, Compliance/AML, Underwriting, and external partners to translate risk signals into timely actions, holds, restrictions, escalations, and remediation plans, while maintaining strong documentation, audit-ready decisioning, and consistent adherence to card-brand and bank expectations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in risk, fraud, analytics, or financial services
• 2+ years of experience in transaction risk monitoring, fraud prevention, payments, or related roles
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret transaction patterns and risk signals
• Excellent communication skills for both written and verbal stakeholder engagement
• Familiarity with payment systems, card brand rules, and risk management tools (e.g., fraud/risk dashboards)
• Understanding of high-risk merchant models and verticals

Responsibilities

• Monitor daily transactions and merchant activities to identify anomalous or high-risk behavior
• Conduct in-depth analysis of fraud, chargeback, and other risk indicators using internal systems (e.g. risk alert dashboards) and open-source intelligence (OSINT) gathering
• Investigate risk signals and determine appropriate risk actions (holds, escalations, restrictions)
• Communicate findings and resolution plans with merchants, internal partners, and external stakeholders (banks)
• Partner with Risk, Compliance, Sales, and Support to refine high-risk detection and response frameworks
• Document investigative findings in our risk systems and support continuous improvement of risk processes
• Decide and recommend appropriate actions based on findings, including funding holds, reserves, payout delays, restrictions, enhanced monitoring, or account review pathways.
• Coordinate with Compliance/AML for enhanced due diligence when patterns suggest AML risk, prohibited activity, or KYC inconsistencies
• Track outcomes and recurring patterns to support trend reporting and continuous improvements
• Identify opportunities to strengthen detection rules, thresholds, and reporting to increase early detection

Benefits

• Comprehensive Benefits Package: We've got you covered with health, dental, and vision plans
• Flexible and Inclusive Work Environment: We understand the importance of work-life balance and provide the flexibility you need to thrive
• Fun Events: From team-building activities to company-wide celebrations, we love to have fun and recognize our hard work
• Professional Growth: We support your career development with ongoing learning opportunities and the chance to take on new challenges
• Work Hard, Play Hard: Enjoy a dynamic environment where your contributions are valued and your potential is unleashed

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level